Carer’s allowance

I wish to make a request under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like to know:

1. The number of people receiving a carers allowance in your local authority each year from 2015 to the present day (or the last day for which data is held). If possible, I would also like to know specifically the number of carers for elderly people (however this is categorised – over 60s for instance) each year.

This information is not held by Devon County Council, it is available from the Department for Work and Pensions and their contact details can be found from their website at:

2. The number of carers assessments carried out by your local authority each year from 2015 to the present day (or the last day for which data is held)

Please see below:

2015/2016; 3295 2016/2017: 5045 2017/2018: 3889

3. How often your authority carries out a carer’s assessment for each carer. Is there a standard check up every year for instance, or does it vary according to need?

The frequency of carers’ assessments varies according to the personal circumstances of each carer at the time, and of the agreed plan between the carer and their practitioner. Based on the number of unique carer records we are able to report an average of 1.6 assessments per carer per annum.

4. The numbers of carers receiving help after a carers assessment each year from 2015 to the present day (or the last day for which data is held). If possible, I would like the type of help broken down. For example, the number of cases where communications devices (such as laptops) were awarded, or respite breaks.

Please see below:

2015/2016: 2603 2016/2017: 3388 2017/2018: 3202

To provide a breakdown of the type of help would require a review of the individual files of these assessments, which from the totals above, would require at least a 15 minute review of 9,193 files, which would take in excess of 2,200 hours.

This amount of time is excessive and this information is therefore exempt from disclosure pursuant to s. 12 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.